United launch Former Players Association

Led by former players, working in close collaboration with both the football club and Newcastle United Foundation, the Former Players Association will recognise and remember all players past and present.

At its heart, the association will have two key principles; firstly to ensure players feel forever connected to - and acknowledged by - the football club and secondly to offer support wherever and whenever they need it, signposting them to a range of welfare and support services.

Former player Paul Watson, who has been instrumental in the formation of the association, said: “There is a massive desire from the former players to get together and remember the good times and their shared experiences.

"This formal link between the club and the former players association will mean so much to them.

“I feel certain that the structure we have developed together will become the blueprint and industry standard for how a football club must look after their players, past, present and future”.

Newcastle United managing director, Lee Charnley, said: “The Former Players Association is a fitting legacy for the club's 125th Anniversary year.

"It will recognise and support every player that has contributed to the history of Newcastle United.

"We are committed to ensuring its success and, through our Foundation, to providing the resources it will need to grow and develop long into the future.”

The association will be formally announced on Tuesday evening at the Foundation’s 125 Years United Dinner, with an official launch scheduled for the end of the 2017/18 season.

The club, together with the former players who will sit on its committee, will make contact with former players in the coming weeks and months.

Any former players who would like to be involved with the association are welcomed to make contact with the club ahead of that by emailing [email protected].